Cash out

Storm guard Sue Bird spoke with buddy Diana Tuarasi on Monday and the Phoenix guard pleaded with Bird to do her one favor — beat Sacramento so the Mercury would continue to have a chance to slip into the postseason backdoor. But it’ll be hard for Bird to do the reverse favor (Phoenix has helped Seattle in the past), as forward Swin Cash did not travel due to pain in her lower back.
“Yeah, she [Diana] mentioned that,” Bird said. “But with Swin not traveling and Sheryl with a concussion, it’s going to be hard for us. Diana was like, ‘You’ve gotta help us!’ But it’s not just this one game. Phoenix has to hope Sacramento loses all of their games.”
Sacramento needs one win or one Phoenix loss to clinch. And when I literally ran into Sacramento coach Jenny Boucek, who was out jogging around Arco Arena after her team’s shoot-around, she was insistent that her Monarchs want to earn their way in by winning — not waiting for anyone to lose. That means beating Seattle tonight, the final home game of the season.
With a full roster, the Storm defeated the Monarchs three times this season, including once at Arco Arena. But Seattle has an all-time 3-12 record in Sacramento.
Cash notified coach Brian Agler of the possibility of missing the game following the win at KeyArena on Saturday. The team did not practice on Sunday, giving time for Cash to rest, but it wasn’t enough. Agler is uncertain how long she’ll be out, moving guard Katie Gearlds in the lineup.
Seattle has nine players available tonight, needing one win to clinch at least second place in the Western Conference, which would give the team home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.
“She’s fought this all year long,” Agler said of Cash, who received a cortisone shot during the Olympic break to help alleviate the pain. “She was really struggling on Sunday and yesterday. She’s been to the doctor a couple of times trying to get it calmed down and if she could have played she would have been here.”

About Women’s Hoops

Jayda Evans covers college and pro women's basketball. She'll offer observations, critiques, occasional off-beat tales and answers to select e-mail inquires. Evans also has written a book on the Storm and women's hoops, called "Game On!" You can email Jayda or follow her on Twitter.